SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A fire at a Scottsbluff church earlier this month caused $450,000 damage because it burned for more than five hours before being discovered.
Firefighters increased their damage estimate for the May 8 fire at Zion Evangelical Church in Scottsbluff.
Scottsbluff Fire Marshall Anthony Murphy says the extent of the damage became clear after revisiting the building and talking with insurance officials.
Authorities believe a lightning strike that caused a power outage in the neighborhood around 7:15 Saturday evening started the fire.
It wasn’t detected until early Sunday because the building didn’t have a fire alarm system.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s Legislature could see a major shake-up next year.
Five incumbent lawmakers came in second place in last week’s primary race, meaning they face a serious threat from a challenger in the November general election. One incumbent narrowly finished third but provisional ballots are still being counted.
If all six lose their seats, more than two-thirds of the senators in Nebraska’s Legislature would have two years of experience or less.
Some senators say they’re concerned that so many new members at once would lead to a more partisan and gridlocked Legislature. Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha says it’s a problem because the Legislature is complex, and new lawmakers need time to learn.
Eleven seats are open because of term limits, and another 17 lawmakers have only served since 2015.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is asking the public to share Instagram photos of state parks and recreational areas with the state.
State Game and Parks Marketing and Advertising Manager Jane Gustafson says the shared pics could be displayed on the agency’s website.
Gustafson says the agency wants to show “the fun things you can do and see at a Nebraska state park, and what better way to do that than through photos?”
A stream of user-submitted photos can be found online at www.OutdoorNebraska.gov/Explore. Those hoping to have a photo featured on the page are instructed to upload it to Instagram and tag it to #NEGameandParks.
ELWOOD, Neb. (AP) — Work is beginning on the Johnson lake Drive access to Johnson Lake State Recreation Area near Elwood in south-central Nebraska.
The Nebraska Roads Department says the work begins at the junction with U.S. Highway 283 extending north 1.7 miles to the Gosper-Dawson county line.
Drivers should expect lane restrictions and traffic control by a pilot vehicle.
The main campground on the southeast side of Johnson Lake near the construction area will remain open. The pavement work is scheduled to be completed before Memorial Day weekend.
Today, Governor Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska Department of Education recognized 21 Nebraska high school students for their academic achievement in earning top scores of 36 on the ACT or a 2400 on the SAT college admissions exam. Recognition ceremonies were held at Pius X High School in Lincoln and Creighton Preparatory High School in Omaha.
“Earning a top score on the ACT or SAT exam is a significant accomplishment that only comes through discipline, study, and hard work,” said Governor Ricketts. “Students from Gering to Omaha achieved the highest level of academic excellence on these college entrance exams. Parents, teachers, and friends can be proud of their outstanding achievement. Wherever your college plans may take you, I hope you will continue to make Nebraska your home as you start your careers and raise a family.”
The Governor was joined by Nebraska’s Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt at the Omaha event and the Deputy Commissioner of Education Deborah Frison at the Lincoln ceremony honoring Nebraska’s graduating seniors earning the highest possible composite scores on the exams. Students were presented with certificates signed by the Governor and Education Commissioner recognizing their “achievement in academic excellence.”
“Congratulations to the 21 Nebraska students who achieved the top score on their ACT or SAT this year,” said Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt. “Their test scores represent an outstanding level of achievement and academic excellence. Their parents and teachers are proud of their work, and their commitment to academic excellence is an inspiration to other students.”
“As a former high school principal, I know the pride Nebraska teachers and administrators feel when their students reach the pinnacle of academic success,” said Deputy Education Commissioner Deborah Frison. “I applaud each of you and your dedication to academic excellence as well as your parents and teachers who supported you over the years.”
Graduating top scoring ACT students include:
Claire Davis, Marian High School, Omaha
Dylan Finley, Millard North High School, Omaha
Rebecca Fitzgarrald, Millard North High School, Omaha
Benjamin Giebelhausen, Bennington Junior Senior High School, Bennington
Shane Grode, Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha
Hanna Hoffman, Lincoln High School, Lincoln
Liam Kruse, Pius X High School, Lincoln
Nathan Lachner, Papillion-La Vista South High School, Papillion
Bridget Mizener, Westside High School, Omaha
Grant Moles, Johnson County Central High School, Tecumseh
Several North Platte men are facing charges after a dispute that spanned a couple of days.
On May 10, at around 12:55 a.m., North Platte police responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 900 block of South Tabor Street.
Officers met with Christopher Meadows, who alleged that two subjects came to his residence, damaged a window and shot a BB gun at him. Meadows reported that one of the subjects was Anthony Fleecs.
Meadows said when he went to call the police, Fleecs kicked out the screen of one of his windows and, again, began shooting at him with the BB gun.
According to Investigator John Deal, Meadows was struck by one of the BBs but wasn’t seriously injured.
Fleecs and the other subject then fled the scene and weren’t located. Deal said the identity of the second subject is known to investigators, and he will be contacted at a later time.
Fast forward two days to may 12. Officers responded to the intersection of Philip Avenue and Tabor Street, on the report of a male subject swinging a hatchet at three other males.
Officers arrived and found Meadows, Fleecs, and Isaiah Hausman.
Independent witnesses were interviewed and stated that Fleecs and Hausman went to Meadows’ residence on Tabor Street and threatened to harm him.
Deal said Fleecs then allegedly pulled out the BB gun and began firing it at Meadows. Fleecs and Hausman then ran away and met up with a third male, and Meadows grabbed a hatchet and began chasing them, swinging the hatchet. Witnesses said he didn’t strike anybody.
As officers arrived, Meadows reportedly ran into back, hid the hatchet and returned to the scene.
Officers were able to locate the BB gun and discovered that Meadows had a BB lodged in his chin and had been struck by several other rounds. While his injuries weren’t serious, he was transported to Great Plains Health for treatment.
In the end, Fleecs was charged with felony 2nd-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He also had an outstanding warrant for attempted 2nd-degree assault. Hausman was cited for 3rd-degree assault for showing up at Meadows’ house and making threats.
Deal said officers determined that Meadows’ actions did not constitute self-defense, as the other men were running away as he swung the hatchet at them. As a result, he was charged with use of a weapon to commit a felony and felony terroristic threats.
Officers eventually located the hatchet on top of a camper.
Meadows and Fleecs were jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A prosecutor says charges no charges will be filed against a University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity president who was accused of tampering with witnesses in a sexual assault investigation.
Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly said Friday that his office will not file charges against Delta Upsilon Fraternity president Timothy Kubert. He was arrested May 6 and has since been released.
Kubert was accused of telling fellow members not to talk to police about a sexual assault reported April 5 at the frat house.
Kelly said — in his words — “The language used didn’t amount to a crime, tampering with a witness or otherwise.”
Kelly says the sexual assault remains under investigation.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man charged in connection with the 2014 alcohol-related death of an 18-year-old University of Nebraska-Lincoln student has been given probation.
22-year-old William Miller, of Central City, was sentenced Friday in Lancaster County Court to a year of probation, 60 hours of community service and a $500 fine. He had pleaded no contest to aiding and abetting a minor to possess or consume alcohol in the Sept. 5, 2014, death of Clayton Real.
Prosecutors charged Miller and four others in the case, all for providing alcohol to Real at an off-campus party. Real was found dead the next morning in his room at the FarmHouse Fraternity house.
Today, Governor Pete Ricketts announced that all U.S. and Nebraska flags are to be flown at half-staff on Sunday, May 15, 2016, in honor of a Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, May 15, 2016.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has again rejected the appeal of a state inmate sentenced to life for the 2011 stabbing death of a fellow prisoner.
Mohamed Abdulkadir was sentenced in 2012 for killing 22-year-old Michael Grandon at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.
Grandon had been imprisoned for the May 2007 murders of 38-year-old Lori Solie and her 5-year-old daughter, Tiara, of North Platte.
Abdulkadir argued that a lower court was wrong to dismiss without first holding a hearing on Abdulkadir’s motion seeking to vacate his second-degree murder and weapon-use convictions.
On Friday, the high court upheld the lower court’s dismissal, saying Abdulkadir’s argument that his defense attorney failed to call two witnesses who would have testified in his favor was without merit.
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A fire at a Scottsbluff church earlier this month caused $450,000 damage because it burned for more than five hours before being discovered.
